# Father Goriot — Father Goriot character guide

> Father Goriot in Father Goriot by Honoré de Balzac.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Goriot, Jean-Joachim Goriot, Old Father Goriot

**First appearance:** 0001-father-goriot

## Snapshot

A retired vermicelli merchant who has poured his fortune into two married daughters, now reduced to a shabby boarding-house room and their occasional cruelty.

## Who they are

Once a prosperous tradesman during the Revolution, Goriot has sold everything to dower his daughters into the aristocracy, who now receive him only in back stairways and shame. He clings to his illusions with a father's ferocity, defending their neglect even as his own lodgings grow meaner and his health fails. Around his hidden devotion Balzac builds the novel's central question: what does a parent's love cost, and who pays it?

## Relationships

### [Eugène de Rastignac](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/father_goriot_se/characters/eugene_de_rastignac)

_friendship_

Eugène develops a deep, almost filial friendship with Father Goriot, who sees him as a surrogate son and confidant.

### [Delphine de Nucingen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/father_goriot_se/characters/delphine_de_nucingen)

_family_

Father Goriot adores his daughter Delphine unconditionally, sacrificing everything for her happiness while she often exploits his love.

### [Delphine de Nucingen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/father_goriot_se/characters/delphine_de_nucingen)

_family_

Father Goriot adores his daughter Delphine unconditionally, sacrificing everything for her happiness while she often exploits his love.

### [Eugène de Rastignac](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/father_goriot_se/characters/eugene_de_rastignac)

_friendship_

Eugène develops a deep, almost filial friendship with Father Goriot, who sees him as a surrogate son and confidant.

### [Eugène de Rastignac](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/father_goriot_se/characters/eugene_de_rastignac)

_friendship_

Eugène develops a deep, almost filial friendship with Father Goriot, who sees him as a surrogate son and confidant.

### [Delphine de Nucingen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/father_goriot_se/characters/delphine_de_nucingen)

_family_

Father Goriot adores his daughter Delphine unconditionally, sacrificing everything for her happiness while she often exploits his love.

## In the story

### [Father Goriot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/father_goriot_se/chapters/father-goriot)

Melted down his silver posset-dish to pay his daughter's debts, showing his paternal sacrifice; subject of gossip at the boarding house.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/father_goriot_se/characters/father_goriot
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/father_goriot_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/father_goriot_se/characters